In great literature, no scene of violence exists for its own sake. Using Othello in a well-organized essay, explain how the scene or scenes contribute(s) to the meaning of the complete work.
(Click here to return to prompt list.) The start of Iago’s plan ·Iago convinces Roderigo to provoke Cassio when he is drunk. oII,i,294-295 oSir, he’s rash and very sudden in choler, and / happily may strike you . Provoke him that he may Sets everything into place ·Cassio loses his position ·Iago earns Othello’s trust oII,iii, 262-265 oI know, Iago, / Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, / Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee, / But nevermore be officer of mine The causes Cassio to ask Desdemona for help ·Creates a “perfect storm” for Iago to work his plan
The Deaths of Desdemona, Emilia, and Othello: Act 5, Scene 2
-Important Lines
"It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul./ Let me not name it you, chaste stars./It is the cause. Yet I'll not shed her blood,/Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow,/And smooth as monumental alabaster./Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men./Put out the light, and then put out the light." (1-7)
Othello explains why he is killing Desdemona and also that he will do it in a way that will not shed her blood.
"Ay, and for that thou diest." (50)
Othello tells Desdemona that he is going to kill her. That she knows she will die makes her death scene unique.
"Therefore confess freely of thy sin./For to deny each article with oath/Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception/That I do groan withal. Thou art to die." (67-70)
Othello tells Desdemona to confess her sins. In the proceeding lines, she begs for mercy and insists she has done nothing wrong, but he does not believe her.
Line 105-Othello smothers Desdemona.
Line 153-Desdemona actually dies.
Lines 230-275 Iago screams for Emilia to be quiet and go home as she explains his treachery.
Line 282-Iago kills Emilia
Othello commits suicide saying "Killing myself, to die upon a kiss" (421).
What it Contributes to the Meaning of the Full Work
Symbolism involved with Desdemona's death
He doesn't spill her blood-reference to virginity. In a way, he preserves her innocence although he does not believe that she possesses it anymore.
She is killed where her disloyalty supposedly took place, but she is actually innocent. It is Othello who is tainting the wedding bed.
Significance of Desdemona's and Emilia's deaths
Both are killed for "betraying" their husbands
As women, they are supposed to be completely loyal to their husbands even if they act irrational or cruel
Neither of them has done anything wrong; they are killed out of possessiveness or in Emilia's case because she was inconveniencing Iago
Their deaths illustrate injustice and also prejudice. The women in the play are very mistreated.
Othello Hits Desdemona
IV.i.266-276
Othello's Lashing out shows all the the rage he has accumulated thus far in the play from Iago's plan
Iago's plan is working
first time Othello really shows Desdemona that something (more than a head ache) is bothing him
the action adds a whole new level to Othello's jealousy for Desdemona
the hit surprised Desdemona showing that Othello's Jealousy is completly unnecissary
the hit forshadows what is to come for Desdemona
the hit shows the change in Othello from the beginning to the end
- the hit was an act that had not been discussed very much before or after the event.
PERIOD 4 (is ACTUALLY REALLY BETTER!)
Cassio's Drunken Fight Act 2 Scene 3
Roderigo provokes a drunken Cassio to fight. Montano steps in and is wounded by Cassio. Othello gets angry and fires Cassio from his lieutenant postion (summary) act II scene iii 142 -180
Examples of Iago's deception
Iago is planning this deception from the beginnig when he gets Roderigo to change and hate Othello in the first Act (Scene 1 line 43)
Roderigo agress to attack Cassio if Iago gives him the chance (Act 2 scene 1 303)
To gets this chance, Iago gets Cassio drunk after the celebration
Iago tells Montano that Cassio is a huge drunk
Montano steps in to stop Cassio but Cassio is so drunk, he injures Montano causing the wrath of Othello.
Description of scene Act V, scene i: 1.Iago talks Roderigo into killing Cassio(ln. 1-6) oThis shows how manipulative Iago is towards Roderigo – sends other people to do his dirty work 2.Roderigo tries to go after Cassio, but Cassio defends himself and stabs Roderigo (ln. 24-28) oThis shows that Roderigo was only a pawn in the plot; nothing goes well with him 3.Iago “stumbles” onto the scene (ln. 54) oThis shows how Iago tries to play naïve even though he set up the entire situation 4.Iago, on the side, kills Roderigo and pretends to find him dead (ln. 73) oThis is another example of Roderigo’s poor luck and just being a pawn, once Iago had no use for him, he killed him.
Connection: Numbers 1 & 3: Iago's pattern of developing is coy plan is to have someone else set up a situation that he pretends he has no idea about, even though he started it. For example, Iago tells Roderigo to provoke Cassio. Iago is sure to get Cassio drunk so that he fights with Roderigo so that Cassio looses his position of lieutenant. Iago just happens to hear the cries of help and comes running onto the scene right after telling Montano all about how Cassio is a huge drunk to make him look bad, even though he was the one to get Cassio drunk (Act II, iii, 142-165). Another example of Iago setting up his evil plans is when he talks Cassio into having Desdemona literately beg Othello to listen to Cassio. Iago is sure to get to Othello before Desdemona brings up Cassio in order to destroy his ideas on Cassio and Desdemona. So when Desdemona begs for Cassio's position back, it seems as if Desdemona is extremely passionate for Cassio instead of her just trying to be a good friend (Act II, iii, 333-345 & Act III, iv, 99-115). The last example of Iago setting up situations is when he gets the handkerchief from Emilia. He places it in Cassio's bedroom so that it appears as if Desdemona has given Othello's love token to Cassio. Then Othello approaches Iago for guidance and Iago further contorts Othello's perception of Desdemona and Cassio. (Act III, iii, 345-359 & Act IV, i, 1-56)
(Click here to return to prompt list.)
The start of Iago’s plan
· Iago convinces Roderigo to provoke Cassio when he is drunk.
o II,i,294-295
o Sir, he’s rash and very sudden in choler, and / happily may strike you . Provoke him that he may
Sets everything into place
· Cassio loses his position
· Iago earns Othello’s trust
o II,iii, 262-265
o I know, Iago, / Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, / Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee, / But nevermore be officer of mine
The causes Cassio to ask Desdemona for help
· Creates a “perfect storm” for Iago to work his plan
The Deaths of Desdemona, Emilia, and Othello: Act 5, Scene 2
-Important Lines
What it Contributes to the Meaning of the Full Work
Othello Hits Desdemona
- the hit was an act that had not been discussed very much before or after the event.
PERIOD 4 (is ACTUALLY REALLY BETTER!)
Cassio's Drunken Fight Act 2 Scene 3
Description of scene Act V, scene i:
1. Iago talks Roderigo into killing Cassio(ln. 1-6)
o This shows how manipulative Iago is towards Roderigo – sends other people to do his dirty work
2. Roderigo tries to go after Cassio, but Cassio defends himself and stabs Roderigo (ln. 24-28)
o This shows that Roderigo was only a pawn in the plot; nothing goes well with him
3. Iago “stumbles” onto the scene (ln. 54)
o This shows how Iago tries to play naïve even though he set up the entire situation
4. Iago, on the side, kills Roderigo and pretends to find him dead (ln. 73)
o This is another example of Roderigo’s poor luck and just being a pawn, once Iago had no use for him, he killed him.
Connection:
Numbers 1 & 3: Iago's pattern of developing is coy plan is to have someone else set up a situation that he pretends he has no idea about, even though he started it. For example, Iago tells Roderigo to provoke Cassio. Iago is sure to get Cassio drunk so that he fights with Roderigo so that Cassio looses his position of lieutenant. Iago just happens to hear the cries of help and comes running onto the scene right after telling Montano all about how Cassio is a huge drunk to make him look bad, even though he was the one to get Cassio drunk (Act II, iii, 142-165). Another example of Iago setting up his evil plans is when he talks Cassio into having Desdemona literately beg Othello to listen to Cassio. Iago is sure to get to Othello before Desdemona brings up Cassio in order to destroy his ideas on Cassio and Desdemona. So when Desdemona begs for Cassio's position back, it seems as if Desdemona is extremely passionate for Cassio instead of her just trying to be a good friend (Act II, iii, 333-345 & Act III, iv, 99-115). The last example of Iago setting up situations is when he gets the handkerchief from Emilia. He places it in Cassio's bedroom so that it appears as if Desdemona has given Othello's love token to Cassio. Then Othello approaches Iago for guidance and Iago further contorts Othello's perception of Desdemona and Cassio. (Act III, iii, 345-359 & Act IV, i, 1-56)